INTRODUCTION

The events in the life of Jesus were always headed toward His death. Jesus has completed His public ministry in which He proved who He was by His miracles and message. He had made every offer for Israel to receive Him as King. Now He was headed to the Cross of Calvary where the payment for sin would make it possible of anyone to become a part of His future Kingdom. What would seem like a major defeat would become valuable victory--a victory not without suffering!

Judas has already arranged a contract with a religious hostile hierarchy to sell his loyalty to the Lord for thirty pieces of silver, Zechariah 11:12, the compensation price for a dead slave that had been killed by an ox, Exodus 21:32. The representatives wanted to arrange the death of Jesus after the feast festival to prevent a riot. So, they had to take Jesus by deceit rather than by force. To many, now as then, Jesus is worth less than the cheapest slave. Judas acted on his own volition and was fully accountable. This is true even though it was predicted, Psalms 41:9, and Satan put the plan in Judas' mind, John 13:2.

I. THE SUFFERING OF PASSOVER: 26:17-19

A. The practice of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 17

The concept of unleavened bread was symbolic by making sure that nothing that could ferment, such as yeast, could contaminate the bread. Metaphorically it was to be holy, separate, truthful, and of a sincere spiritual nature in personal preparation for the Passover.

B. The preparation of the Feast of Passover, 18

1. They needed a place in a crowded city. The Passover Feast required crowds of people to have their sacrifices prepared at the temple. Every space would be reserved for out-of-town families to worship together.

2. They needed supplies of water, wine, a lamb, bread and bitter herbs. Peter and John were sent to make arrangements, Luke 22:8.

3. They needed a person to provide a place, Luke 22:7-13.

Jesus kept the location of the Passover Feast a secret from Judas by using a "certain man" to guide the disciples to the room for the feast.

C. The purpose of the Feast of Passover, 19

1. The feast was a memorial to the night the death angel spared the Jewish children in Egypt and in commemoration of Israel's deliverance.

2. In fulfillment of the purpose of the Passover, Jesus presented Himself as the perfect Paschal (Passover) lamb, I Corinthians 5:7.

II. THE SUFFERING OF BETRAYAL, 26:20-25

A. The twelve disciples, 20

Jesus treated Judas with love and patience in such a perfect manner that the disciples had no idea he was an unbelieving traitor. Even when Jesus identified him, the others did not understand what the Lord meant. Judas had ever right to be present for the Passover supper, he had no right as an unbeliever to be at the Lord's Supper.

B. The betraying disciple, 21-25

Why Jesus chose Judas to be one of His disciples is unclear. What is clear is that Jesus knew who he was and what he would eventually do. The disciples didn't have a clue even when the betrayal was actually taking place. Impersonating a believer is not difficult, and many who believe they are believers are actually believing in Christianity (church) instead of Christ Himself. Judas accepted the Passover bread fully knowing he had already arranged the sale of the Savior. Jesus offered the bread in an act of grace. Judas took it as an act of a traitor, assuming full accountability. When he took the bread Satan entered him and he sealed his eternal doom, John 13:27. Judas left the meeting into the night, John 13:30. Eventually Judas went to his own (unique, one of a kind) place, Acts 1:25.

III. THE SUFFERING OF SUBSTITUTION, 26:26-29

A. After Judas left the room Jesus instituted the Lord's Table, replacing the Passover Supper. The Last Supper of the Lord had no meaning to Judas, an unbeliever. The communion service is not a religious ritual, nor a sacrament designed to earn grace from the church, it is a perpetual memorial of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice for sin.

B. The two elements of the Passover, the bread and the cup, took on a different meaning. They now speak of the body of Christ that was nailed to a cross and His blood that once shed became sufficient payment for sin again God.

C. The New Testament teaching relating to the Lord's Table memorial service is clearly taught in I Corinthians 11:23-40. Just as the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a display of personal cleansing before the Passover Supper, so the believer is to examine himself and confess sin to God in preparation for the Lord's Table.

D. When we observe the Lord's Table we are to look in ourselves, back to Calvary, and ahead to Christ's return. (It is strange that churches which make the most of communion often are churches that reject the deity of Christ, His sufficient payment of sin, His literal bodily resurrection, and His return to establish a literal futuristic earthly kingdom.)

E. Both in the original institution of the Lord's Table and the continued remembrance of Christ's death, believers fail to see the full picture and importance of the communion service.

IV. THE SUFFERING OF INDIFFERENCE, 26:30-35

A. In both the original institution of the Lord's Table as well as the teaching to the church of the continue memorial of Christ's death, believers are given a command from God to be in participation. The presence of believers when a local congregation serves the Lord's Table is not a suggestion, an optional observance, or something to do if it is convenient. It is a direct command from God!

B. "This do in remembrance of Me," I Corinthians 11:24

C. Jesus said, "Take, eat." "Drink ye all." Matthew 26:27

GAA/ November 5, 2006 (f)